Adjustable self-spreading sprinkler



March 23, 1954 DEARBORN 2,673,119

ADJUSTABLE SELF-SPREADING SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-$heet l 7 l7 mime/ a 23 24 IN VEN TOR. #0144420 K. DEAEBOEN BY P flHE): WA 775, EDGEETOA/ 4 M-C/VE/VN Y 1 A TTUQNEYS March 23, 1954 DEARBQRN 2,673,119 ADJUSTABLE SELF-SPREADING SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 26, 1951 S Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. HOWARD z DEAPEOE/V E0 TA 770M March 23, 1954 BO 2,673,119

ADJUSTABLE SELF-SPREADING SPRINKLER Filed Dec. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. f/OM/AED K .DEAEBOPN' Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SELF-SPREADING SPRINKLER Howard K. Dearborn, B81133; Ohio ApplicationDecember 26, 1951, Serial No. 2633396 3 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to Sprinklers, and is particularly adapted to water sprinklers for lawns, gardens, roofs, cooling systems, farm uses, and similar areas.

Sprinklers of the type referred to present two general problems. The first problem is that of attaining uniform, controlled wetting of the area covered by the sprinkler, and the second problem is that of providing a selection of spray patterns, including circular patterns" and patterns that may be other than circular. A device made in accordance with applicants invention solves both these problems in that it provides for selection of a plurality of jet patterns, and yet, at the same time, insures uniformwetting of the area within such patterns; This is all accomplished according tothe invention without theaddition of attachments t'othe basic sprinkler.

Another object resides in distributingthe water in the form of jets or streams of relatively large drops as opposed to fine mists or sprays.

Other features of" the invention are that the sprinkler is self-contained, is simple and compact, of a graceful appearance, and hasno fragile or protruding par-ts subject to damage. Also, a selection of patterns may be made without need for separate attachments. The abovefeatures and advantages are all accomplished: by a sprinkler involving a novel cooperation of elements Which may be briefly described as follows: The water-emitting portion of'thesp'rinkler comprises a disc-like member which has a plurality of equally-spacedports and a pattern selector plate member having a larger number of nominally equally-spaced ports. may be positioned in any one of severalpatterndetermining positions relative to the disc-like member, each of which causes registryoi certain groups of ports arranged to produce jets defining a predetermined pattern. It is'ir'nporta'nt that jets be produced to'avoid wind disturbance and provide for control.

In order that thesejets may, inturn, because'd to wet the entire area encompassed by the pattern, a unitary self-rotating deflector member is mounted for impingement by'the jets. The dc flector member has inclined surfaces so' arranged that the range of each jet is successively in creased and then decreased, and; in addition, each jet is successively deflected from side to side; the result being'that each spray covers a comparatively largearea within the pattern.= The deflector member acts'on a plurality of jets so that the combined result or action of all jets isvto uniformly distribute thawater over the' 'se lected patterni- The selector member It is a feature of a modified form of the invention which, in many respects may be the preferred form, that the pattern selection is obtainable by rotation of a flat disc having a cyclic arrangement of holes of various sizes drilled in its periphery, said disc cooperating with a plate having a smaller numberof equally-spacedyfluidemitting or conducting ports; This is a very economical construction in that the flat disc may be punched from a master punchanddie set.

The manner in which these and other objects and advantages may be accomplished will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled device partially sectioned;

Fig. 2 is a' plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device with the selector member removed;

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken on 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the selector member;

Fig. 6is adeveloped'view of a portion of thedeflector member; I

Figs. '7, 8 and areenlarg'ed fragmentary sections through the selector member showing various types of fluid passageways that may be provided;

Fig. 10 is a top view of another form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a section takenon ll ll of Fig.

Fig. 12 is a bottom view of a water emission plate; and,

Fig. 13 is a top view of the pattern selector plate.

The sprinkler includes a base, indicated generally at 10 having a pedestalportion H and'a post l'2, theseparts'being formed with an inlet passageway for liquid such as water or' the like as at I3. In case thedevice is intended for use as a lawnsprinkler, a n'ipple' M is formed thereon, internally threaded for connection to an ordinary garden hose.

As seen in Fig; 4, a ieeder member 'is indicated generally at 15, and has a threaded shank It received in'a'threaded socket ll in'the post 12. The shank has a water-conducting passageway I8 formed axially'therein with four diverging outlet ports I9leading from-the passageway. Reenforcingfins-H are disposed betweenthe ports I9.

The upper portion-ofthe feeder member isin the form of a" disc or'flange iii-having a raised distributor rib with a bevelled outer surface 22 and a generally axial inner surface 23. A plurality of distributing ports or water passageways 24 are drilled through the rib to direct the water generally radially and outwardly from the device. A locating pin 25 extends upwardly from the feeder member l to assist in selecting the desired spray pattern. The upper portion of the feeding member has a tapped hole 26 for a sembling the device.

The selector member is indicated generally at 30. It is in the form of a disc-like body cupped on its underside and formed with an internally bevelled or conical surface 3! which makes a sealing engagement with the conical surface 22 formed on the feeder rib. A plurality of nozzles 32 and 33 are drilled through the side wall of the selector 30, these nozzles being of different sizes and drilled in accordance with a system which will be explained in detail presently. The conical or tapered surface 34 is formed by machining a notch in the rim of the selector member 30, and provides for unobstructed exit of liquid from the nozzles 32 and 33. A plurality of equal ly-spaced bores -36 are drilled in the body of the selector 30 for snug reception of the pin 25 mounted on the distributor. The selector disc 3e is maintained in its selected position by means of a thumb nut 31 having a threaded shank extending into the tapped bore 26 in the distributor.

The deflector member is indicated generally at 40 and is, in fact, mounted in position at the same time that the distributor member i5 is assembled with the base. The deflector member 40 is of an inverted mushroom or cup shape, and is drilled to receive the shank of the feeder with working clearance. The deflector rotatably mounted on the device, and located against axial motion opposed rows of bearing balls 4| running in suitable races formed on the deflector and on the upper end of the post and the upper end of the shank of the feeder. The nature of the mounting and of the anti-friction bearings installed, if any, is not critical to the invention, and those skilled in the art will recogniz that any suitable freerunning mounting for the deflector 44 may be provided.

I prefer that one or more drain holes 42 be drilled through the wall of the deflector to remove any water that may accumulate therein due to its mushroom or cup-like shape. The periphery of the deflector is in the form of a flange having faces that are struck by streams or sprays of water emitting from the nozzles 32 and 33.

The tooth-like structure of the deflector is readily seen in Fig. 3, which structure forms, in effect, a plurality of water-directing channels having diverging side walls that intersect to form what appear like teeth. As indicated on Fig. 3, there are two types of these channels formed on the device. The first type, indicated at a, consists of approximately ten equally-spaced channels having intersecting side walls forming teeth and having inclined bottom walls. The bottom walls, indicated at 43, are (as best seen in Fig. 4) disposed in a generally conical envelope and inclined upwardly and outwardly at an angle which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is in the nature of 45. The diverging side walls of the channels 43 intersect (as best seen in Fig. 3) to form What may be thought of as teeth 44.

The other group of channels and attendant teeth are indicated at b in Fig. 3. Here the channels are seven in number in the preferred embodiment, and have inclined bottom walls 45 which are at a greater angle of inclination to the horizontal than are the channel walls 43 in the other group of channels. As a matter of fact, I prefer that the bottom walls 46 of channel group b have a progressively increasing inclination moving from left to right in the group as seen in Fig. 3.

The last or righthand channel wall 46, for example, which appears at the right of Fig. 4, may have an inclination in the neighborhood of as compared to 45 for the other set of channel walls. Of course, the number of teeth and the angles mentioned are only relative, and are given for purposes of understanding, the quantitative value of the angles depending upon the desired range of the device, the water pressure for which it is designed, etc.

As can be seen in Fig. 4, channel groups a and b are alternated about the periphery of the deflector, each pair of channel groups a and Z) encompassing of arc. The side walls of channels 46, like those of the other channels, diverge to intersect to form teeth indicated at 41. Although the deflector teeth are shown as being in sets, the number of teeth in each set may be varied, or the types of teeth alternated singly.

As can be seen in Fig. 6, which is a rolled out or developed view of th teeth and channels, the teeth and channels are inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the deflector, which inclination is provided so that the deflector will be selfrotating in response to the reaction of the streams of water impinging against the deflector as they are emitted from the nozzles 32 and 33. It is the action of the deflector, which rotates quite slowly in operation which, regardless of the pattern provides a uniform distribution of water over the wetting area. The deflector has two actions upon the streams of Water emitted from the nozzles. For example (as seen to the left of Fig. 4) channels 43 of the type a are receiving water from a nozzle 32 which preferably emits water at a somewhat smaller inclination than the inclination of channels 43. This difference in inclination assists in the self-rotating action of the deflector.

Due to variations in droplet size and other indeterminate factors, all of which factors are exaggerated at maximum range of the nozzles, a certain area will be wetted at or about maximum range which all of group a of the deflector teeth pass by a given nozzle. Also, since the distribution density tends to decrease rapidly as the range increases, the number of maximum range deflector teeth of the type a exceeds that of the range-reducing teeth I). Since the channel walls 46 of teeth I) have a greater inclination, are struck by the stream from a given nozzle (as seen to the right in Fig. 4) the stream is deflected at a greater angle of departure and, therefore, fall short of maximum range.

In the preferred construction, the inclination of the deflector walls, type b, progressively increases, which means that the sprays recede gradually from maximum to minimum range, whereupon teeth of the type a come into play and restore the spray to maximum range. This action compensates for the usual tendency of sprinklers to apply a greater water density to the inner zones than to the outer zones of the area, or vice versa.

The other action of the deflector results from the inclined side walls of the channels, that is, the teeth. As the deflector rotates past the streams emitted from the nozzles, the side walls alternately deflect these streams from side to side so that a relatively small number of streams can be made to uniformly wet the entire pattern area. Due to the axial inclination of the teeth and channels, the action of the water being deflected by them is such as to give a force component tangent to the deflector and cause a small rotation of that member. This inclination can best be seen in Fig. 6.

The fact that the deflector just described is fitted to the device makes it possible to provide uniformly wet sprinkled patterns of non-circular as well as circular shape without any additional deflecting pattern control mechanism other than the nozzle and distributor ports already described. The manner in which the patterns are selected and produced will be described in connection with the preferred embodiment of the invention which produces five different patterns, A, B, C, D, and E, these being indicated on the top of the selector and are positioned with reference to an index arrow as seen in Fig. 2. In Fig. 5, the patterns A to E are diagrammatically illustrated with reference to the pin-receiving bores 36 in the following sequence of lines drawn through one group of nozzles.

Pattern A is a circular pattern with the sprinkler in the center thereof, as indicated by the dot,

and so on through the five pattern positions. Thus, a distributor port must always be in one of the five indicated positions, depending upon the pattern selection. The same applies to each of the other of the sixteen distributor ports, each of which may assume one and only one of five diiferent positions.

It will now be apparent that with a given setting of the selector the size of the nozzles and the absence or presence thereof may be determined to give the desired pattern. If the pattern is square, for example, the nozzles feeding the corner will be larger than those feeding the intermediate positions of the area. Also, as in patterns C and D where the spray is in front of the device, the rearward nozzles for those positions will be blanked ofi.

Nozzles .r (Fig. 7) may be termed the median range nozzles, nozzles y (Fig. 9) are formed to produce shorter ranges, and nozzles a (Fig. 8) are of larger diameter and provide maximum range.

The following table gives the nozzle arrangement for the pattern selection shown in the drawings. The numbers 1 to 80 represent nozzle positions, it being clear that some positions are blanked.

Table of distributor nozzles Pattern A Pattern B Pattern 0 Pattern E Pattern D Nozzle Nozzle Nozzle Nozzle Nozzle Position .2? Position Position Position 21? Position NTmle Number Jp Number yp Number 3 p Number yp Number ype Blank.

Do. Do.

and with this pattern selected one feeder port 24 is connected to number 1 nozzle, as shown in the dash line in Fig. 5. The register that occurs when the other patterns are selected is shown by the dashed and dotted lines, corresponding to the lines indicating the patterns in Fig. 5. As will be seen, with some patterns not all distributor port 26 are connected to nozzles, but may be blanked off. The geometry of the device which makes possible the selection of the patterns will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Here there are five patterns positioned by five equally-spaced locating holes 36. The number of distributor ports 24 is sixteen. The total number of nozzles, if the maximum number of nozzles is provided, would be five times sixteen or eighty. Since the locating holes 36 and feeder ports 24 and the nozzles are all equally spaced, consideration will show that for each of the five positions of the selector 2. given distributor port will assume five different positions, each position correspondin with a nozzle or potential nozzle axis. In other words, with the device set to produce pattern A and with the aforesaid geometry, the distributor port 24 opposite pin as seen in Fig. 3, will be aligned with nozzle position 1, as seen in Fig. 5. When pattern B is selected, a distributor portzd will be aligned with position 2,

Although it is generally contemplated that the entire circumference of the device will be utilized, consideration will show that limited arc operation in accordance with the aforesaid principles may be had if the holes are equally spaced.

Having completed a detailed description of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that a sprinkler made in accordance with the invention produces a sprinkled pattern of uniform density on a. circle, and makes possible the production of a sprinkled pattern of uniform density on irregularly-shaped patterns. Furthermore, a plurality of pattern shapes may be selected without adding or subtracting any parts from the device, and the entire device has but one unitary movable part. It will be apparent that the drilled feeder ports 24, as well as the drilled nozzles 32, may cooperate to form water passageways or nozzles and that these passageways may be formed by means other than drilling, as by oppositely notching the mating members so that when the notches are in register water will pass through the passages. Accordingly, the terms ports and nozzles as included in the appended claims are not to be construed to be limited to drilled passageways having a 360 wall. It will also be apparent that, although I prefer to cause rotation of the deflector by. inclination of. its teeth, there are many devices in the sprinkler art producing rotation of a member by water power of the emitted stream, and I, therefore, contemplate that in the broader aspects of the invention it is not limited to the preferred structure causing rotation.

The drawings show a device drawn roughly to scale as it would be applied to ordinary residential water pressures of 40 p. s. i. or the like in order that others may readily practice the invention. The nozzle diameters vary from the nozzles having exit throats of .040" diameter to nozzles having an exit throat of 080 diameter. The corner nozzles may have an .080 entrance with an .060" exit, to increase the range. However, the dimensions, angles, and spacing of the holes and nozzles may be varied within the principles of the invention to produce different patterns for the sprinkled areas, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figs. -13 has the same mode of operation as that described but the fluid-emitting nozzles are now fixed and equally spaced, whereas the distributing ports are now of variable size and spacing and movable relative to the nozzles. The same base member ID (previously described) may be employed in this form of the invention. Mounted thereon is a bottom disc 56 having a. sleeve 5| threaded to the base as at 52, the bore 53 of the sleeve serving to conduct water to the sprinkler mechanism. Disc 50 has a threaded flange 54 for mounting a cover plate 56 by means of a threaded fiange extension 51 on the plate. Sixteen equally-spaced conducting ports 58 are drilled in the plate 56. These ports have one of the functions of the nozzles :12, y and a formed in the member 36 of the other form of the invention in that they are the ports that actually emit the water from the device. However, unlike the nozzles in the other form, ports 58 are of all the same size and are equally spaced. Thus, in the latter sense, ports 58 correspond to feeder ports 24 in the other form of the invention, in that, they are fixed and equally-spaced. The generic term conducting ports is therefore intended to apply to ports 58 in this form of the invention and to ports 24 in the other form, that is, to the fixed, equally-spaced ports.

A series of detent bores 59 are provided in plate 56 for receiving a locating pin, such bores corresponding to bores 36 in the other form of the invention except that, instead of providing five locating or detent bores, twenty of suchbores are here provided. As a result, the entire range of pattern selection may be obtained with a minimum or a quarter turn of the selector member, whereas a full turn is required when five bores are provided.

In order to provide for pattern selection, plate 56 has a center bore 6|. A selector knob 62 has a stem 63 extending through the bore 6| formed with a threaded bore, The distributing plate 64 is formed as a flat sheet metal disc. A spring 65 is disposed between the selector knob 62 and fixed plate 56 before final assembly for the purpose of urging plate 64 snugly against plate 56. Screw 66 and key 61 fasten the distributing plate 64 to the slector knob 62 in a predetermined position. A detent pin 68 is riveted to the distributing plate and is formed to fit the detent bores 59 in the fixed plate 56. As seen in Fig. 4, the distributing plate 64 is provided with three sizes of apertures: large apertures new, medium apertures yy and small apertures 22 disposed in a predeterminedpattern about the periphery of the plate. With the sixteen-port, five-multipledetent construction shown, and like the previous form of the invention, there are eighty nominal locations for the distributing ports xx, yy and 22. The cyclic arrangement of these ports is selected in accordance with the principles previously outlined as exemplified by the example found in the table previously given, in order to produce the desired array of patterns. The sequence of patterns obtainable by rotation of the selector knob as well as the shape of the individual patterns may be varied by choosing the desired size and location of the distributing ports, including the blank spaces between the ports. It is not deemed necessary to go into the details of the size and location of each port shown in Fig. 4 relative to ports 58 and detent bores 59, it being obvious that the patterns and hence the arrangement and sizes of the ports may be varied in accordance with the principles previously outlined.

As in the other form of the device, a rotatable deflector member H1 is mounted on the stand by means of bearings H and has a notched periphery indicated generally at 12 formed to deflect the jets of water from side to side and up and down just as previously described.

As seen in Fig. 10, the selector knob 62 has five indices 73 for cooperation with four indices 14 on the fixed plate 56. Thus, when the selector knob is pushed down against the force of spring 65 to remove pin 68 from one of the detent bores '59, rotation of the knob until the pin enters the next bore 59 will bring into alignment another pair of indices 13 and 1'4 and the corresponding pattern as indicated on the knob 62 will be set up for operation. This multiplication of detent bores 59 could also be applied to the other form of the invention with identical results.

Thus, it can be seen that in this form of the invention, the distributing plate 64 is very economical to manufacture. Also, nothing need be screwed or unscrewed to operate the device because the simple detent mechanism and springpressed knob are all that is required. Also, the entire range of patterns is obtainable by a quarter turn of the knob.

It will be apparent that in the broader aspects of the invention, the form just described represents just a mere reversal of parts as compared to the previously-described form in that here the member containing the eighty (nominal) waterconducting ports is movable and is formed as a fiat valve disc whereas the equally-spaced ports 56 serve as nozzles. In the other form, the equally-spaced ports 24 served as conducting or feeder ports and the distributing ports :1:, y and a, which are movable with respect to member 30, also serve as nozzles.

Having completed a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may be able to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is not limited by said preferred embodiment but rather is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler comprising a base, a spreader member rotatably mounted on said base and having a peripheral flange, said flange having a plurality of radially and axially outwardly directed channels with inclined bottom walls which are at different angles of inclination to the axis of rotation of said spreader member, means to direct a plurality of streams of liquid generally radially against the walls of said channels, the side walls of said channels intersecting to provide generally radially inwardly facing teeth, the walls of said channels being inclined to the axis of rotation causing the streams of liquid to rotate said spreader member and present different channels and teeth to said streams thereby varying both the range and lateral deflection of said streams.

2. A sprinkler comprising a base, a spreader member rotatably mounted on said base and having a peripheral flange, said flange having a plurality of outwardly-directed channels with inclined bottom walls which are at different angles of inclination to the axis of rotation of said spreader member, means to direct a plurality of streams of liquid generally radially against the walls of said channels, the walls of said channels being inclined to the axis of rotation causing a rotative reaction against the streams of water to rotate said spreader member thereby presenting difierent channels to said streams and so varying the range of said streams.

3. A multiple-pattern sprinkler comprising a vertically disposed hollow support having a connection at its lower end to a source of liquid under pressure, a circular disc secured to the upper end of said hollow support and being open at its center to the interior of said hollow support, said disc having a vertically disposed upwardly extending peripheral flange, said flange having a series of equally spaced horizontally extending openings therethrough, a pattern selector disc mounted coaxially of said first named disc, said pattern selector disc having a vertically disposed downwardly extending peripheral flange arranged to overlap the flange on the first-named disc, said flange on the pattern selector disc having unequally spaced openings selectively aligned by relative rotation between the discs with certain openings in the flange of the first-named disc to determine the flow pattern outwardly of the discs and a rotatable cup proportioned to surround said discs, the cup being open upwardly and having notches adjacent its upper edge whereby the cup is rotated due to the impingement of liquid flowing radially outwardly of the discs.

HOWARD K. DEARBORN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 513,957 Rundquist Jan. 30, 1894 517,544 Dickens Apr. 3, 1894 543,993 Kohler Aug. 6, 1895 919,737 Loomis Apr. 27, 1909 

